The regions beleaguered transit authority took it in the teeth not once but twice this week leaving officials reeling, planned expansion of public transit services in doubt and some members of the mayors council that oversees operations in a state of despair.
By the time TransLink commissioner Martin Crillys formally announced rejection of TransLinks request for substantial fare increases it was already one of the worst kept secrets around. Transit riders may rejoice at the news. But the day before Crilly confirmed what everyone expected, the chair of the mayors council, District of North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Mayor Richard Walton said: I dont know where we go from here.
Where they likely wont be going is south of the Fraser for more bus services to Surrey planned for next September, including a new B-Line along the King George Highway. Even the possibility of a rapid bus on the yet-to-be-completed new Port Mann Bridge is at risk.
The rejection of a fare increase is only part of TransLinks problem. Over the past few weeks Premier Christy Clark and Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom have painted the organization into a funding corner. Clark rejected a vehicle levy, and in the first blow to TransLink this week, Lekstrom sent Walton a letter saying: I am unwilling to consider any new funding tool for TransLink that involves the provincial carbon tax. He added, taxpayers are at their limit for paying additional fuel taxes and the province has no plans to change the provincial tolling policy.
He did mention he was moving swiftly to implement a way of enforcing fare evasion tickets so the millions of dollars annually in unpaid tickets can be collected. But he said nothing of turning any of that dough over to TransLink. Dont hold your breath on that one. And expect to be nailed for more property tax.
One other point: Metro mayors have complained for years about the lack of transparency and influence by elected officials because of the TransLink governance structure imposed by Lekstroms predecessor Kevin Falcon during Gordon Campbells time as premier. TransLink is essentially run by a professional board. Lekstrom offered to add seats on that board for the chair and vice-chair of the mayors council. Im told that, even though Langleys Mayor Peter Fassbender told CBC Radio Thursday it could be a step in the right direction, the mayors council wont let that happen.
In spite of all that, Crilly does point out that fares can and will go up. TransLink is allowed to increase fares by two per cent a year and hasnt done so for the past five years. So look for a 10 per cent bump on short term fares.
But the most critical comments from Crilly involved TransLinks efficiency as a transit operator. Bluntly put: they are fat. They spend more per capita on administration and more on equipment than comparable transit systems in the country.
It didnt help that, while we were waiting for Crillys report and TransLink was crying poor and getting beaten up by Premier Clark, a story broke because of a freedom of information request about executive bonuses at TransLink. TransLinks CEO Ian Jarvis was slated to receive 15 per cent on top of his salary for achieving his goals. While this set off a bit of a firestorm, allowing the premier to take another shot, folks in the private sector must have been puzzled. Incentive bonuses in that world are common. And 15 per cent is a mere pittance usually given to lower level administrators.
Meanwhile, much of TransLinks future plans are on hold while the province conducts an audit to find efficiencies. These efficiencies, according to Crilly, should result in $40 million to $60 million in savings over the next three years but without trimming or deferring service improvement.
Good luck.
